First time puffer keeper, are they always weirdos?

[southerntnreefer]

Aquired a stars and stripes and a porcupine. Porcupine eats like a pig and won't leave me alone. I can just about pet him now. The stars and stripes finds every reason to play dead, sit on his head, and generally give me a heart attack until the blues come on.

Are they always this much of a trip? Ha! Love it I think?

 

[Mjrenz]

Puffers have a lot of personality and I really like them too, the only reason I don't keep them is because they love a nice crunchy invert snack and I also like my crabs and shrimp

 

[Evan28395950]

One weird thing with my Puffer is when he goes into his own world and starts nipping the glass right where the sand ends, and as he does this the clownfish swarm over and surround him. I have no idea why.

 

[Peace River]

Aquired a stars and stripes and a porcupine. Porcupine eats like a pig and won't leave me alone. I can just about pet him now. The stars and stripes finds every reason to play dead, sit on his head, and generally give me a heart attack until the blues come on.

Are they always this much of a trip? Ha! Love it I think?

Some may call it weird, but most of us who keep or have kept puffers typically refer to it as "personality"!

They are more like "pets" than many fish and also are more prone to interact with things outside of the tank as well.

 

[DangerDave]

One weird thing with my Puffer is when he goes into his own world and starts nipping the glass right where the sand ends, and as he does this the clownfish swarm over and surround him. I have no idea why.

I’d love to hear if someone knows what this behavior is. I used to keep puffers years ago, and they were just great fish to observe.

 

[southerntnreefer]

My stars and stripes spent all day acting like he was dead. Standing on his head etc. Then tonight when the lights come on, he's out and about like he owns the place. I've had them for a week now, rehomes, and spent two weeks at a buddy in qt, I'm assuming he's acting out and settling in to my lighting, but I'm a first timer so it gave me a heart attack.

 

[PYRU]

Yep totally normal. Porcupine was the best fish I've ever owned.

 

[southerntnreefer]

Yep totally normal. Porcupine was the best fish I've ever owned.

I have a porcupine too. He's my shadow and likes to bite me.

 

[lion king]

Yes you can pet them, tickle their bellies, and hand feed them. They will come up and spit water right in your face, yes, they are a crack up.

 

[southerntnreefer]

Yes you can pet them, tickle their bellies, and hand feed them. They will come up and spit water right in your face, yes, they are a crack up.

I'm working on the hand feed part now.

 

[jasonrusso]

I used to hand feed mine until he got around 6 inches. Now I value my fingertips! And yes, they do sleep.

 

[southerntnreefer]

Any idea what he's up to today? Too much air in him? How do I fix this? Just started this morning. Was out swimming yesterday.

 

[jasonrusso]

Any idea what he's up to today? Too much air in him? How do I fix this? Just started this morning. Was out swimming yesterday.

Hmm, looks weird. Doesn't look like he is bloated.

 

[lion king]

Anything other than possibly swallowing air would be beyond my understanding. And yes you can "burp" them. You can gently hold him and turn his face up towards the surface, massage his belly in a way to help him burp the air out. If he inflates don't freak out too much, making sure he is completely submersed it will be water and actually help with any dispersement of air. What are you feeding, any freeze dried foods should be avoided unless completely rehydrated.

 

[southerntnreefer]

Anything other than possibly swallowing air would be beyond my understanding. And yes you can "burp" them. You can gently hold him and turn his face up towards the surface, massage his belly in a way to help him burp the air out. If he inflates don't freak out too much, making sure he is completely submersed it will be water and actually help with any dispersement of air. What are you feeding, any freeze dried foods should be avoided unless completely rehydrated.

I feed live snails, mussels, shell on shrimp. I burped him, and he tried to puff. Looks like he's got a spot of air in him so I may have to do it again. He then swam around ticked off with me and hid behind the rocks.

 

[southerntnreefer]

He seems now that he can swim fine, just wants to do that. I'm wondering if something spooked him and he tried to puff and couldn't finish etc.

 

[lion king]

Yeah the 1st time I saw one of my puffers puff, it freaked me out. When he was deflating; he shook, rattled, and rolled; seemed like it took a bit of effort for him to get it all out. If he is eating and seems to be able to swim normally, it might just be one of those weird things he does. Who knows what they are really thinking being in a glass cage and all. Ingesting air really isn't good though, so keep an eye on that. Puffing isn't something to get used to either, it is a sign of stress that the source should be corrected. If he puffed a little completely submerged when you tried to burp him, that ingesting of water would help to disperse any air, if that was contributing.

 

[southerntnreefer]

Yeah the 1st time I saw one of my puffers puff, it freaked me out. When he was deflating; he shook, rattled, and rolled; seemed like it took a bit of effort for him to get it all out. If he is eating and seems to be able to swim normally, it might just be one of those weird things he does. Who knows what they are really thinking being in a glass cage and all. Ingesting air really isn't good though, so keep an eye on that. Puffing isn't something to get used to either, it is a sign of stress that the source should be corrected. If he puffed a little completely submerged when you tried to burp him, that ingesting of water would help to disperse any air, if that was contributing.

I'm letting him chill now. Seems to breathe normally, and gives me a death stare when I make sure he's still alive when he's on his head. May need to burp him again later, but we will see. The porc just follows me around. The stars and stripes is more weird.

 

[southerntnreefer]

Got home and he's no better. Moves him to my sump basket but he doesn't seem to deflate

 

[jasonrusso]

Got home and he's no better. Moves him to my sump basket but he doesn't seem to deflate

I watched the video again, I'm not there, but he doesn't seem to be inflated. He looks "blimpy" but they all do. Don't stress him out too much.

He's in your sump now?